JC
John T. Cates
MCDONALD PARTNERS LLC
Defiance, OH
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CRD#: 6427819
JC
Professional summary
John Thomas Cates is a registered financial advisor currently at MCDONALD PARTNERS LLC located in Defiance, Ohio.
John is registered as an IAR (Investment Advisor Representative) and RR (Registered Representative) and started their career in finance in 2014. John has worked at 5 firms and has passed the Series 66, SIE and Series 7 exams.
Question & Answer
Are you a "fiduciary"?
Yes
Aliases
None
Other business activities
Outside business activity is any business or activity undertaken by an advisor that is outside the scope of their relationship with their firm (e.g., consulting services, real estate, freelance work, teaching, etc.). Investors should stay informed about these activities to ensure no conflicts of interest.
The advisor shows no other business activity.
CRS (Client Relationship Summary) - RIA
Click below to view John Thomas Cates's CRS (Customer Relationship Summary).
CRS (Client Relationship Summary) - BD
Click below to view John Thomas Cates's CRS (Customer Relationship Summary).
Certified licenses
Advisors may have various certifications and credentials from different organizations. AdvisorCheck highlights these seven certifications - AIF®, CFP®, ChFC®, CFA, CLU®, CIMA®, CPWA®
NoneExperience
Current
August 19, 2025 - Present
MCDONALD PARTNERS LLC
Office #2: One Seagate Suite 1825, Toledo, OH 43604RIA
BD
CRD#: 135414
Defiance, OH
Current
June 6, 2025 - Present
MCDONALD PARTNERS LLC
Office #1: One Seagate Suite 1825, Toledo, OH 43604RIA
BD
CRD#: 135414
Toledo, OH
Past
June 11, 2025 - July 10, 2025
MCDONALD PARTNERS LLC
RIA
CRD#: 135414
CLEVELAND, OH
Past
November 8, 2024 - June 5, 2025
THE LEADERS GROUP, INC.
BD
CRD#: 37157
SUMMIT, NJ
Past
April 1, 2020 - October 31, 2024
LION STREET FINANCIAL, LLC
BD
CRD#: 165828
MAUMEE, OH
Past
January 30, 2015 - July 8, 2019
CETERA INVESTMENT ADVISERS LLC
RIA
CRD#: 105644
DEFIANCE, OH
Past
December 10, 2014 - July 8, 2019
CETERA INVESTMENT SERVICES LLC
BD
CRD#: 15340
DEFIANCE, OH
Primary Firm SEC Registration
This SEC-registered firm can serve clients nationwide. Some states may require the firm to submit a notice filing if the firm has more than 5 clients or a physical office there. You can view these state-level filings under the section titled "State Registrations and Notice Filings".
MP
MCDONALD PARTNERS LLC
MCDONALD MANAGEMENT LLC | THOMAS MCDONALD PARTNERS, LLC | THOMAS MCDONALD & ASSOCIATES LLC | THOMAS MCDONALD & ASSOCIATES | MPCF LLC | MPCF II LLC | MP127 LLC | MP DPI LLC | MCDONALD USAF GP LLC | MCDONALD PARTNERS LLC
CRD#: 135414 / SEC#: 801-64294, 8-66985
RIA
Registered Investment Advisory firm - SEC (5/6/2005 Approved)BD
Broker-Dealer Firm Regulated by FINRA (Chicago district office)
State Registrations and Notice Filings
Listed states reflect where the advisor is authorized to serve clients under state regulations.
IAR
means the advisor is registered as an Investment Advisor Representative in this state and is authorized to provide investment advice to clients there.RR
indicates the advisor is registered as a Registered Representative in this state, allowing them to offer securities such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds through a broker-dealer.Visual representation of state registrations
RR
Michigan(8/19/2025)
RR
Ohio(6/9/2025)
IAR
Ohio(8/21/2025)
RR
Texas(6/6/2025)
IAR
Texas(8/19/2025)
Exams
State Security Law Exam
General Industry/Product Exam
General Industry/Product Exam
SRO Registrations
RR
FINRA
Current Firm
MP
MCDONALD PARTNERS LLC
MCDONALD MANAGEMENT LLC | THOMAS MCDONALD PARTNERS, LLC | THOMAS MCDONALD & ASSOCIATES LLC | THOMAS MCDONALD & ASSOCIATES | MPCF LLC | MPCF II LLC | MP127 LLC | MP DPI LLC | MCDONALD USAF GP LLC | MCDONALD PARTNERS LLC
CRD#: 135414 / SEC#: 801-64294, 8-66985
RIA
Registered Investment Advisory firm - SEC (5/6/2005 Approved)BD
Broker-Dealer Firm Regulated by FINRA (Chicago district office)
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Contact information
Main Address
1301 East 9th Street Suite 3700, Cleveland, OH 44114
Mailing Address
1301 East 9th Street Suite 3700, Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone number
(216) 912-0567
Established
Ohio since 04/05/2005
Firm type
Limited Liability Company
Fiscal year end
December
Firm Size
Small
# of Employees
33
SEC notice filing (42 States and Territories)
FINRA licenses (48 States and Territories)
Direct owners and executive officers
| Name | Position | CRD# |
|---|---|---|
| MCDONALD, THOMAS MARION | OWNER | 326904 |
| MCDONALD, ARNOLD BEATTY | FINANCIAL & OPERATIONS PRINCIPAL | 5126644 |
| MCDONALD, ARNOLD BEATTY | CEO/CFO/MUNI PRINCIPAL/OWNER | 5126644 |
| MCDONALD, BRIAN ANDREW | OWNER | 3037343 |
| RAFAT NAIN NEMRY | OWNER | |
| HARTZLER, JONATHAN DANIEL | CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER | 5163442 |
| HEGARTY, WILLIAM MAURICE JR | CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER | 2784174 |
| MANSOUR, RITA | OWNER | 1968418 |
| MCARDLE, JOHN EDWARD III | OWNER | 5386698 |
| NORTON, TIMOTHY PATRICK | OWNER | 726982 |
Regulatory assets under management
| Total Number of Accounts | 2,024 |
| AUM (Assets Under Management) | $ 1,287,456,830 |
Disclosures
| Regulatory Event | 5 |
| Arbitration | 1 |
Accountant surprise examination report
| Filing Date | Form ADV-E Cover | Form ADV-E Report |
|---|---|---|
| 10/02/2025 | ||
| 10/02/2025 | ||
| 01/06/2025 | ||
| 01/06/2025 | ||
| 09/18/2023 | ||
| 09/18/2023 | ||
| 01/04/2023 | ||
| 01/04/2023 |
Red Flags
Disclosures can be potential red flags, including customer disputes, regulatory fines, employer terminations, bankruptcies, judgments, liens, or certain criminal activities.
Check for any disclosures as part of your thorough research when choosing an advisor.
